Miners slam Oilers 5-1 in first playoff game

PALMER - Playoff baseball began on a high note for the first place Mat-Su Miners with 5-1 home win over the fourth place Peninsula Oilers.

Mat-Su’s pitching staff stepped up for the third-straight game with starter Brandon Downer tossing seven shutout innings on just four hits. The Cal Baptist-product did not record a single strikeout or allow a walk with the Oilers batters swinging at anything close to the plate.

Downer’s last outing showcased an equally dominant performance with the A.B.L. 's only nine inning-shutout. The right-hander was awarded the Miners’ honor for best starting pitcher during the team banquet on Sunday evening.

Left-hander Mario Bejarano relieved Downer with two innings allowing just one run on three hits. The Central Arizona Community College-product last threw on Friday, but he only tossed five pitches to close out an inning at the Bucs. He was supposed to pitch in the double-header on Monday, but Ty LeBrun sent the reliever back to the bullpen after the current pitcher adamantly showed his desire to remain on the hill.

The Mat-Su bats produced early with a three-run first inning. First baseman Cooper Vest led off with a double, scoring on a groundout later in the frame. Right fielder Kaden Carpenter boarded on a base hit, and the Utah-product advanced to third on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt from Kenai starter Ryan Palmer. Second baseman Nolan Tucker tagged a base hit up the middle to bring Carpenter around as well as another runner, making the lead 3-0 M’s.

Designated hitter Maddox Haley boosted the lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning with an R.B.I. double, and left fielder Alex Vergara drove in another run in the following frame with a base knock to make it a 5-0 game.

The victory for Mat-Su puts the Miners one win shy of returning to the Top of the World Series Championship Round after falling short to the Glacier Pilots last season.

The M’s will act as the road team for Game Two, however the affair will still take place in Palmer, Alaska at Hermon Brothers Field on the Alaska State Fairgrounds during the Miners’ month-long celebration of the Alaska State Fair. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.